Carton construction



July 2,- 1968 5. BROWN 3,390,7 0

I ccccccccccccc C'IION Filed Feb. 9, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 2, 1968 5, BROWN 3,390,760

CARTON CONSTRUCTION Filed Feb. 9, 1966 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Hm; m

m H111, g 5.41 I "fiflli 4 o 7a I United States Patent 3,390,70 CARTON CONSTRUCTIGN Richard S. Brown, Lockport, N.Y., assignor to iackaging Corporation of America, Evanston, 111., a corporation of Delaware Filed Feb. 9, 1966, Ser. No. 526,089 4 Claims. (Ci. 20645.22)

ABSTRACT OF THE DISQLOSURE A shipper-display carton provided with a traylike member and a sectional tubular member. When the sections of the tubular member are in aligned relation, the tubular member embraces the tray member to form a shipping carton. When the sections of the tubular member are in angular relation with respect to one another, the tray member extends through one of the tubular member sections and the remaining tubular sections serve to position the tray member in an angularly upright position whereby the open side of the tray member is exposed.

Background of the invention In the retail merchandising of various products such as pencils, certain types of tools and the like, it is oftentimes necessary for the retailer to remove the product from its shipping carton before displaying same for sale. As a result of this practice extra handling of the product is required and in addition the retailer must provide some separate attractive receptacle for displaying the product.

Thus, it is one of the objects of this invent-ion to provide an inexpensive, yet sturdy, carton which will serve effectively as both a shipper carton and a display carton.

It is a further object of this invention to provide a shipper-display carton having the various components thereof which may readily assume a collapsed condition, when not in use, and may be expeditiously set up manually, When desired.

Further and additional objects will appear from the description, accompanying drawings and appended claims.

Summary .of the invention In accordance with one embodiment of this invention a shipper-display carton is provided comprising a sectional tubular member, and a tray unit slidably mounted therein. The tubular member includes a plurality of sections, each having a corresponding side thereof foldably connected to an adjacent section. The sections, when disposed in one relative position, are aligned in end to end relation and all of the aligned setcions are adapted to accommodate the tray unit to form a shipper package.

The sections, when disposed in a second relative position, have one section thereof accommodating the tray unit and a second section thereof angularly disposed with respect to said one section and exteriorly of the accommodated tray 'unit; one end of the second section is adapted to abut one side of the accommodated tray.

Description For a more complete understanding of this invention reference should be made to the drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of one form of the improved carton showing the tray unit and tubular member thereof assembled for use as a shipper carton;

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the carton of FIG. 1 shown assembled for use as a display carton;

FIG. 3 is a plan view of the tray unit blank;

FIG. 4 is a plan view of the tubular member blank;

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the tray unit in partially set-up condition;

FIG. 6 is a side elevational view of FIG. 1;

33%,?69 Patented July 2, 1968 ice FIGS. 7 and 8 are side elevational views showing the shipper carton of FIG. 6 being transformed into a display carton as seen in FIG. 2.

Referring now to the drawings and more particularly to FIGS. 1 and 2, a foldable carton 10 formed of sheet material, such as fibreboard, is shown which comprises a tubular member 11 and a tray unit 12. The member 11 and unit 12 are adapted to be assembled so as to form a shipper carton S, FIG. 1, or a display carton D, FIG. 2.

Tray unit 12, in one form, may be an open top, rectangularly shaped receptacle capable of containing a plurality of items, such as lead pencils. It is to be understood, of course, that the shape and size of the tray unit may vary from that shown without departing from the icope of the invention to be hereinafter described more ully.

The illusrated tray unit 12 is formed from a blank 13, see FIG. 3, which is readily capable of being manually set up to form the unit seen in FIG. 5. Blank 13 is provided with a first set of spaced substantially parallel foldlines 14, 15, 16 and 17, and a second set of spaced substantially parallel foldlines 18 and 20 which are disposed transversely With respect to the first set of foldlines. The two sets of foldlines cooperate with on another to form a bottom panel 21, side panels 22 and 23, and outer end panels 24 and 25. In addition there are formed inner end panels 26 and 27 extending laterally outwardly from the outer edges of corresponding outer flaps 24 and 25, and corner flaps 28 and 30 extending laterally from opposite ends of side panels 22 and 23, respectively. Corner flaps 28 and 30 are separated from adjacent end panels 24 and 25 by cuts 31 and 32, respectively. For purposes of clarity, the cuts 31 and 32 are indicated by heavy lines, while the foldlines are indicated by light lines in FIG. 3.

Foldlines 16 and 17 are wide so as to compensate for the thickness of corner flaps 28 and 30, when the latter are sandwiched between the inner and outer end panels during set-up of the tray unit 12. To effect locking of each inner end panel 26 or 27 in set-up condition with respect to the corresponding outer end panel 24 or 25, respectively, each inner end panel is provided with a laterally extending tongue 33, which is adapted to engage a recess or shoulder 34, formed in the bottom panel 21 adjacent to but spaced from the foldline 14 or 15, in a manner well understood in the art. Thus, in the set-up unit 12, the side and end panels delimit the bottom panel 21 and extend upwardly therefrom so as to define an open top.

The illustrated form of the tubular member 11 comprises three foldably connected sections I, II and III. When the carton 10 is assembled as a shipper carton S, FIGS. 1 and 6, the sections are arranged in aligned, end to end relation whereby all of the sections cooperate to encompass the accommodate tray unit 12 leaving only the end Walls of the tray unit 12 exposed. On the other hand, when the carton is functioning as a display carton D, see FIG. 2, the sections I-III are disposed in angular relation. In the illustrated embodiment of the display carton D, only section II encompasses the tray unit 12 while section III partially accommodates one (lower) end of the tray unit and section I is disposed exteriorly of the tray unit and substantially at a right angle with respect thereto. In such an arrangement, the inner end 35 of section I abuts the underside of the tray unit bottom panel 21. The outer, or opposite, end 36 of section I, on the other hand, engages the support surface upon which the carton rests.

By reason of section III partially accommodating the lower end of the inclined tray unit 12, see FIG. 2, a broader more stable support for the display carton is provided. If desired, sections III may assume an aligned position with respect to section II, when the carton is used for display purposes, in which case both sections II and III encompass the inclined tray unit 12. When the tray unit is encompassed by both sections II and III, the exposure of the open top of the tray unit is more restricted than as shown in FIG. 2.

Tubular member 11, in the illustrated embodiment, is formed from a blank 37 of fibreboard as shown in FIG. 4. The blank includes a first set of spaced substantially parallel foldlines 38, 40, 41, and 42 and a second set of spaced substantially parallel foldlines 43 and 44, the latter being transversely disposed with respect to the first set of foldlines. Axially aligned with and interrupting foldlines 43 and 44 are cuts 43a and 44a, respectively. Foldlines 43 and 44 and their respective cuts 43a and 44a cooperate with the opposite elongated sides 45 and 46, respectively, of the blank and with one another to define tubular sections I, II and III. Foldlines 38, 40, 41 and 42 cooperate with one another and with the remaining sides 47 and 48 of the blank to form a top panel 50, a pair of side panels 51 and 52, and complemental sections 53a and 53b which cooperate to form the bottom panel 53, when the blank 37 is set up to form the tubular member 11. When the tubular member 11 is formed from the illustrated blank 37, the complemental sections 53a and 53b are folded so that sides 47 and 48 are in abutting relation. While the blank sides are so disposed, tape, not shown, is applied so as to overlie the abutting sides. By reason of the respective complemental sections 53a and 53b of sections I, II and III being interconnected by foldlines 43 and 44, folding of the blank so as to cause the sides 47 and 48 to abut one another is greatly facilitated.

As seen in FIG. 1, when the carton functions as a shipper carton S, all of the tubular member sections I, II and III encompass the tray unit 12. If desired, suitable tape, not shown, can be applied at the ends of carton S, to retain unit 12 in a fixed position within member 11.

To transform the carton into a display-carton D, the member 11 is first moved endwise relative to unit 12 in the direction of the arrow A, shown in FIG. 7, until section I is free of unit 12, whereupon it can be pivoted relative to section II about foldline 43. Subsequent to section I assuming its pivoted position, as shown in FIG. 7, unit 12 is moved endwise relative to member 11 in the direction of the arrow B shown in FIG. 8, until section HI is free of the unit and assumes the pivoted position shown in FIG. 8. Unit 12 is then moved in the opposite direction from that shown in FIG. 8 unitl the end of the tray unit 12 is partially accommodated in section III as shown in FIG. 2. Section III thus functions as a stable broad base for the unit 12 as seen in FIG. 2. Section I, on the other hand, is disposed exteriorly of unit 12 and has one end 35 of section I abutting the underside of the bottom panel 21 of unit 12. The opposite end 36 of section I, on the other hand, engages the supporting surface for the display-carton D. Section II retains its encompassing relation with unit 12, and thus, a substantial portion of the open top of the tray unit 12 is exposed.

Where the exposure of the tray unit open top is to be more restricted when the carton is functioning as a display unit D, both sections H and III or I and II can be made to encompass the unit 12. Where sections I and II encompass unit 12, section III will assume an exterior position similar to that of section I, shown in FIG. 2.

Various modifications can be made to member 11 without departing from the scope of this invention; for example, member 11 could include only two sections of either equal or unequal size. Furthermore, the carton, when functioning as a shipper-carton S, may have a shape other than that shown. For example, the sides of the tray unit 12 and the corresponding sides of the member 11 could be tapered or converge downwardly toward the bottom of the carton.

Thus, it will be seen that a simple, inexpensive, and effective dual-purpose carton has been provided which is capable of functioning as either a sturdy shipper carton or an attractive and stable display carton.

While several embodiments of this invention have been described above, further modifications may be made thereto, and it is contemplated, therefore, by the appended claims, to cover any such modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1. A shipper-display carton comprising a sectional tubular member, and a tray unit slidably mounted therein; said member including a center section and end sections disposed at opposite sides of said center section, said center and end sections having corresponding sides foldably interconnected; said sections, when in one relative position, being aligned in end to end relation and having the corresponding sides thereof in substantially coplanar relation whereby said tray unit is accommodated by all of said sections to form a shipper package, and, when in a second relative position, being in angularly disposed relation whereby said center section accommodates said tray unit, one end section is disposed transversely with respect to said tray unit and exteriorly thereof, and the other end section is angularly disposed with respect to said center section and partially accommodates one end of said tray unit to form a display package.

2. The carton recited in claim 1 wherein the tubular member sections, when in said one relative position, form sides of said tubular member which are in substantial coincident relation with the corresponding sides of the accommodated tray unit.

3. The carton recited in claim 1 wherein the foldably interconnected corresponding sides of said tubular member sections are coincident with and subtend a bottom surface of the accommodated tray unit when said sections are in said one relative position.

4. A blank of foldable sheet material for use in forming a sectional tubular member whereby the latter cooperates with a tray unit to form a shipper-display carton, said blank consisting of a plurality of elongated substantially parallel first foldlines which extend substantially the full length of said blank and cooperate with one another to form a plurality of foldably connected elongated side wall panels arranged in side-by-side relation, a plurality of spaced substantially parallel elongated second foldlines formed in an outermost side wall panel and disposed in transverse relation with respect to said first foldlines and cooperating therewith so that said outermost side wall panel includes end sections and an inter-mediate section, and a plurality of elongated substantially parallel slits formed in a predetermined number of the remaining side wall panels, said slits being aligned with and connected to the ends of said second foldlines whereby said predetermined number of remaining side wall panels include end sections and an intermediate section which are aligned with the corresponding sections of said outermost side wall panel.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,130,811 3/1915 Goldsmith 2O6-45.2

1,684,385 9/1928 Batkin 206-45.22

1,999,909 4/ 1935 Lupton.

2,655,262 10/1953 Lewis 206-59 3,333,756 8/ 1967 Amatel 206--46 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,060,366 11/1953 France.

MARTHA L. RICE, Primary Examiner. 

